Paanajärvi NP ©Viktor Gritsuk Activities towards implementing the Prague recommendations since June 2010 Zoltan Kun Executive Director
May 25, 2015
Paanajärvi NP ©Viktor Gritsuk
Activities towards implementing the Prague recommendations since June 2010Zoltan KunExecutive Director
PAN Parks contribution to ‘Poseltsvi’
Policy development• Setting management benchmark through the verification process (regular monitoring of PAN Parks wilderness area network + new applications from Lithuania and Turkey) -> see achievement document as a separate document!• Developing management guideline in the framework of an EC sub-contract (Alterra and Eurosite)• Working with 3 Caucasus countries, Russia (UNESCO MAB secretary) and Turkey (Kure Mountains NP)• Lobbying for the inclusion of wilderness in the post 2010 biodiversity strategy (through EHF)• Following CAP reform (through EHF) -> worrying news!
PAN Parks contribution to ‘Poseltsvi’
Awareness building• Organising wilderness restoration conference as partner of Wild Europe Initiative (target: conservation sector)• Developing a project concept to be submitted to LIFE+ on promoting the values of wilderness beyond environmental services• Mass communication: there is a huge lack of resources, but we use various tools:• Social media (facebook, twitter, youtube)• Visitor centres of park• PR work in the UK and Netherlands (focused on travel media)
Wilderness on Social Media sites
Facebook.com + Twitter.com
Youtube.com
Wilderness Image Video
Wilderness is closer than you think!
PAN Parks contribution to ‘Poseltsvi’
Information needs• Participate in Wilderness Working Group to finalise the definition (see proposal as a separate slide)• As a supporting activity of the wilderness register, PAN Parks is verifying the available data in the UNEP-WCMC database• Working with LeedsUniversity on a basic European wilderness quality index -> in order to have proper data such a mapping must be done on country or regional level!• Linking with the academic sector (#16): proposal was submitted to FP7 but rejected as ‘it was focused too much on wilderness and not biodiversity’ -> further lobbying needed in DG Research!
Wilderness definition
Wilderness Area: Large natural protected areas governed by natural processes and free from permanent (only indigenous communities) human habitation and intervention. Wilderness qualities should be experienced by people in a manner that leaves the area unimpaired for future generations. Wilderness areas represents a vital element of Europe's natural and cultural heritage and can bring important economic and social benefits, provide and protect biodiversity and important ecosystem services for local communities, land holders and society at large.
Wild area definition
Wild Area (still to be discussed): is an area with clear wilderness values but either partially or substantially modified though human activities or too small / fragmanted to be considered as wilderness. Wild areas are free from unnecessary intervention by human activities excluding prescribed restoration of natural habitats and reintroduction of wild species so as to maintain or improve the wilderness qualities. Wild areas similarly to wilderness can bring important economic and social benefits, provide and protect biodiversity and important ecosystem services for local communities, land holders and society at large. Fragmented wild areas should be connected through functional ecological corridors to other protected areas with wilderness values
Wilderness area (see definition next page)
Wild areas (see definition next page
Too small to be
wilderness
Other protected areas
All forms of PAs are contributing to biodiversity conservation!
Current stage of natural development (indicated by eg. IUCN category)
Non-intervention (current mgmt practice) intervention
PAN Parks contribution to ‘Poseltsvi’
Supporting capacity (20-23)Further developing FR options through PAN ParksLaunching ‘The Million Project’ which provides a framework to organisations working on the protection of wilderness throughout Europe
Assessing the funding opportunities for neighboring countries
www.panparks.org
THANK YOU!